The roller coasters at Cedar Point and Kings Island are already among the fastest in the world. And according to Amusement Today, they are also among the best aywhere.
The Ohio theme parks took home a slew of honors from the Golden Ticket Awards put on by the trade publication, which bills itself as “your amusement industry news leader.” Among the awards, three of the Ohio parks’ roller coasters are in the top 10 worldwide, and even more rank in the top 50.
The awards, established in 1998, shine a spotlight on the amusement park industry and attractions by recognizing the best of the best, according to the publication. Amusement Today says they are currently among the most recognized awards among theme parks, amusement parks, family entertainment centers and water parks.
In 2025, Amusement Today presented awards in 22 categories, as well as special recognition with Publisher’s Picks awards and Legend designations. Here’s how Cedar Point and Kings Island fared.
Kings Island wooden roller coasters rank among the best in the world at Golden Ticket Awards
Kings Island is one of only three parks to have a trio of roller coasters among the top 50 wooden coasters for 2025, according to Amusement Today. And two of them are in the top 10.
The Beast, which has held the record for the world’s longest wooden coaster since it was built in 1979, came in at No. 4 on the list. “For a coaster to hold onto a record for more than 45 years is astounding. The Beast has been a rite of passage for generations of thrill seekers,” the publication writes. Mystic Timbers came in at No. 6 and The Racer was No. 45.
Cedar Point, Kings Island steel roller coasters among the best at Golden Ticket Awards
In Amusement Today’s ranking of the top 50 steel coasters, Cedar Point has four coasters listed, and two are in the top 10. Kings Island also hits the list with three.
Cedar Point’s Steel Vengeance comes in at No. 3. The publication calls it a white-knuckle favorite standing more than 200 feet high and featuring outrageous maneuvers. At No. 6 is Millennium Force. “Of the four coasters to have taken gold in this category, Millennium Force popped in and out of the top spot, taking it 11 times,” Amusement Today writes.
Cedar Point also has the oldest steel coaster to make the list (at No. 34), Magnum XL-200, which debuted in 1989. It is one of only five coasters in the top 50 to be built before the year 2000. Rounding out the list for Cedar Point is Maverick at No. 12.
Steel coasters at Kings Island to make the top 50 include Diamondback (No. 19), Orion (No. 45) and Banshee (No. 46).
Kings Island near the top for best kids area, best guest experience and best new water park ride
Kings Island placed No. 2 for best kids area with its Planet Snoopy and Camp Snoopy areas. Amusement Today praises its four kid-sized coasters, both smaller rides and ones where the parents can join, for making it “a favorite play space for children. Kings Island carried the Golden Ticket in the category for an incredible 18 years.”
The Southwest Ohio park also placed fifth for best guest experience. Amusement Today writes: “King’s Island (No. 5) has built a loyal audience for more than half a century owing to a pretty and clean park, good staffing, and a wide variety of quality attractions making for a role model regional theme park experience.”
And its new RiverRacers ride at Soak City took home second for the best new water park ride. “This side-by-side slide pays homage to the park’s original coaster, The Racer. Riders are dispatched together and begin with a large drop, followed by an uphill section. Twists and turns are symmetrical to both sides, making for a race to the finish.”
Cedar Point awarded for best new theme concept, best new roller coasters
The Sandusky, Ohio, theme park placed twice in the best new roller coasters category, for Top Thrill 2 and Siren’s Curse. “Never before has a park had two finalists in this category,” according to Amusement Today.
Siren’s Curse, the first “tilt” coaster in North America, got the attention of coaster fans, per the publication. The “reviews have been nothing short of spectacular praise for the ride.”
And Top Thrill 2, which briefly opened in 2024 before shutting down for modifications after only a few days of operation, “made for a solid one-two punch for park guests this season. TT2 and its terrifying backward spike and 120 mph speeds had riders cheering,” Amusement Today writes.
The top 10 wooden roller coasters in the world
These are Amusement Today’s choices for the top 10 wooden roller coasters in the world:
The top 10 steel roller coasters in the world
And these are the publication’s selections for the top 10 steel coasters for 2025:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cedar Point, Kings Island roller coasters among best in world. See full list of awards
Reporting by Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
